Alumni Association
The Alumni Board has thirty active members and functions as the executive branch of the Alumni Association. The board currently has representation from five fraternities and three sororities and represents nine states. The members meet formally three times a year, typically September, February and May, and have several projects on which they work year-long. They are instrumental in planning Homecoming, assisting the Career Services Department in placing graduates, supporting the advancement efforts of the college, promoting alumni-student relationships and assisting with admissions efforts in their home areas.
History
The Hillsdale College Alumni Association was organized in 1865 some twenty years after the founding of the College and immediately following the Civil War in which Hillsdale students and graduates had played such an important part. All graduates of Hillsdale College, as well as all students who completed four semesters at the College, are considered members of the Association.
Mission Statement
The purpose of the Association is to organize the alumni of Hillsdale College, to promote the development and maintenance of a mutual bond between the alumni and the College, to keep the alumni fully informed of College activities and operations, to represent the alumni on matters affecting the College, to help maintain and raise the standards of the College, to aid in the enrollment of new students, to promote goodwill between the alumni and college administrators, trustees, faculty, staff and students, and to encourage all alumni to tangibly support the College to insure its growth.
Timeline of the History of the Hillsdale College Alumni Association
- The alumni first met “in convention” on June 15, 1865, to establish the “Alumni Association of Hillsdale College.”
- President Hiram Collier ’64, Secretary Laura Rowe ‘65, secretary, and Historian John J. Hopkins, ‘62, served as the first officers. Since that time, there have been more than 65 Alumni Association presidents, and it has expanded to an Alumni Executive Board of 30 members.
- The first business meeting took place on June 14, 1865, when the constitution was adopted.
- The Alumni Office’s first location was on the second floor of Knowlton Hall, known as Alumni Hall. In 1951 the Alumni Awards tradition began which continues to this day.
- In 1994 the Alumni Walk comprising about 3,900 bricks was dedicated as part of the Freedomquest Campaign.
- The Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship Endowment was established in the late 1990s. More than 60 students receive this scholarship each year. Source of information: The First One Hundred Years of Hillsdale College by Vivian Lyon Moore.
Alumni Association Board
Executive Officers
President
Neal Cole, ’07, SC
Vice President
Erin Valdez, ’01
Secretary
Carla Citrano Spielman, ’95, CO
Immediate Past President
Kerry Cummings, ’77, KKG
Members
Trip Banks, ’76, PSE
Doug Behnke, ’80, DTD
Victoria Bergen, ’11
Dan Englert, ’05, SC
T. Elliot Gaiser, ’12
Edward Giles, ’88, SC
Rachel Heise Greb, ’95
Dave Grieco, ’79, ATO
Kirby Hartley, ’15
Jobi Parrish Hasse, ’93, KK
Randy Keefe, ’16
Sean Keefer, ’99
Dennis Knoblock, ’76
Kim Losik, ’76
Dean Melchi, ’74
Jeffrey Meyers, ’16, DTD
Brent Ogle, ’02, SC
Nicholas Rorick, ’01 SC
Michael Ruhl, ’97, DSP
Sam Russell, ’08, DTD
Dwight Silva, ’05, SC
Jonathan Slonim, ’14, DTD
David Stanton, ’98, SC
Andrew Szewc, ’22, ATO
Karlwin Taylor, ’93, DSP
Lucy Meckler Vander Laan, ’20, CO
Honorary Members
Greg McLogan, ’88, SC (Historian, non-voting)
Ronda Doane Deer, ’60, CO (Historian, non-voting)
Thelma Sim, ’57, PBP (non-voting)
Ex-Officio Members
Dave Bahlmann, ’61, DSP
Whiz Davis, ’56, DSP
John Lauria, ’95
Jeff Loehnis, ’80
Charlie Long, ’71, TKE
Tom Martilotti, ’67
Normajean Rerucha, ’59, PBP
Brendan Ringlever, ’92, DTD
Becky Schmidt-Abel, ’77, PBP
Karin Tiettmeyer Sullivan, ’88, PBP
Ed Swanson, ’60, DSP
Bud Tishkowski, ’59, DSP
Linda Voit, ’73, PBP
Joel Schellhammer, ’01
Patti Rooney, ’77, PBP
Marianne Rotole, ’95, KKG
Staff
Executive Director of Alumni Relations
Colleen McGinness, ’04, PBP
Executive Director of Career Services
Ken Koopmans
Senior Director of Alumni Marketing
Doug Goodnough, ’90, DSP
Director of Alumni Engagement
David Bassett, ’12
Director of External Relations for Athletics
Jeffrey S. Lantis, ’86
Associate Director of Annual Giving
Braden VanDyke, ’21
Alumni Administrative Assistant
Danyelle Motsinger
Alumni Marketing Manager
Jeff Masse
Faculty Liaision
Dr. Jospeh Garnjobst
Professor of Classics
Joining the Alumni Board
Serving on the Alumni Board can be a busy yet fulfilling experience. Alumni board members are elected to serve up to two consecutive four-year terms, attending three meetings yearly plus hosting Homecoming. If you are interested in being considered for a seat on the board, please complete an Alumni Board Application and return it to the Alumni Office.
Contact Alumni Relations Office
Alumni Directory
Find old friends or connect with new ones using the member directory. It’s important to keep your profile current.
Membership, Structure, and Terms of Office
The Alumni Association Board consists of 30 elected members, four of whom are officers. Members may serve for two consecutive 4-year terms. The Board meets three times per year and members may be asked, as they are available, to attend other campus and off-campus events from time to time.
The Executive Committee of the Alumni Board consists of the four officers plus the Alumni Director. Board members serve on one of the three standing committees: Career Services, Development, and Homecoming & Reunions. Ad hoc committees are also formed from time to time to address special issues as they may arise.
In addition to the elected members of the Board, there are also several ex officio (non-voting) members consisting of former Board presidents, Alumni Office staff, faculty representatives, and other College staff from various departments with whom the Board regularly works (Career Services, Advancement, Athletics, and so on). Additional appointed alumni may serve on committees of the Board but may not vote or otherwise participate in formal Board meetings.
Apply for Membership
Any graduate of the College may apply for membership to the Alumni Association Board.
Applications are to be submitted via email to the Alumni Office at [email protected] . Board vacancies are filled via election by sitting Board members, typically at the Homecoming meeting of the Board with terms of office to begin at the following (Winter) meeting.
The deadline for submission of an application is August 1.